I was diagnosed with Dupuytren's nearly four years ago. It appeared quite suddenly and was developing rapidly in my left hand (I'm right-handed). Within a few weeks my ring finger and pinkie were contracting with nodules gradually popping up. I saw two different surgeons and both thought I would need surgery in the very near future as it was progressing so rapidly. I did a lot of research and decided if and when I got any kind of surgery, N.A. was the route for me, not the conventional surgery which is all that was available in my area (Saskatchewan, Canada). I ended up on the online forum at Biospecifics and read a posting a few years old from a woman somewhere in mid-west U.S.A. who had very advanced Dupuytren's almost completely reversed with acupuncture. I decided to try the least invasive ideas first so sought out an acupuncturist. I found a woman who is also a naturopath. I began weekly acupuncture and we also discussed pollen injections. After a few months of acupuncture we noticed that it was no longer advancing. We increased the time between appointments gradually up to about 6 weeks. At that point the Dupuytren's began advancing again. We shortened the time between appointments, gradually settling on about 3 to 4 weeks apart. Over the nearly four years I have been receiving acupuncture, there has been some slight increase in nodules and a very slight contracture of my ring finger when relaxed; nothing else. We did try one shot of bee pollen but I found it extremely painful so stopped it. Upon researching the bee pollen injections futher, she found that her colleagues using this treatment were not having as great success as she was with the acupuncture she was giving me. I don't know if this can work for every situation, but it is certainly worth trying such a low invasive treatment first to see if it works for you.

Roger, I don't want to discourage you with acupuncture but in most cases it seems to have no effect. It might be that your nodules were embedded in softer, maybe inflammed tissue, and the downsizing is rather this tissue than the actual Dupuytren nodule. The growth rate that you are describing is very unusual and that's why I would think there was something additional.

I wonder why, if in most cases acupuncture seems to have no effect on Dupuytrens, as you say, that I cannot find any letters from people trying it and reporting poor results?

The only letter I found a few years ago when mine started, was the one letter I mentioned from the woman who reported beginning acupuncture in stage 4 and has had such great success that it was almost completely reversed. I contacted her a year or more after her original posting. She still receives acupuncture treatments on a monthly basis, the Dupuytren's has not gotten worse again, and she is even playing piano.

My MDs are well aware of my acupuncture treatments, continue to monitor my Dupuytren's and are also impressed with the continuing results.

I suspect that the lack of postings on the subject is due to the lack of people trying it, not the lack of positive results. I would strongly encourage anybody to try this non-invasive treatment plan first. And if their acupuncturist does not have first hand experience treating Dupuytren's, I would be happy to provide their acupuncturist with contact information to mine.

This forum has a search capability (on the top menu). Make sure that you are searching in topics and answers to get all responses (about 100). You are right, some are positive, some are not (eg http://www.dupuytren-online.info/Forum_E...86&page=1#1). Maybe acupuncture is worth a try though I still don't see how it might work.

I wonder why, if in most cases acupuncture seems to have no effect on Dupuytrens, as you say, that I cannot find any letters from people trying it and reporting poor results?

The only letter I found a few years ago when mine started, was the one letter I mentioned from the woman who reported beginning acupuncture in stage 4 and has had such great success that it was almost completely reversed. I contacted her a year or more after her original posting. She still receives acupuncture treatments on a monthly basis, the Dupuytren's has not gotten worse again, and she is even playing piano.

My MDs are well aware of my acupuncture treatments, continue to monitor my Dupuytren's and are also impressed with the continuing results.

I suspect that the lack of postings on the subject is due to the lack of people trying it, not the lack of positive results. I would strongly encourage anybody to try this non-invasive treatment plan first. And if their acupuncturist does not have first hand experience treating Dupuytren's, I would be happy to provide their acupuncturist with contact information to mine.

Roger

I have recently started acupuncture for dupuytren's but my acupuncturist has not previously treated this. I'd love to give her someone to contact who has. How can I get the contact info for your acupuncturist?

Re contact info for my acupuncturist, I am seeing her later this week and will confirm her approval to pass her contact info on to you. However, I see that you are not registered on this site and would prefer to email you the info directly rather than post it here publicly. Please email me at rogermirka1 (at) gmail . com and as long as she says it's okay, I will reply next week with her contact info.

I understand your concern about the needle possibly creating even more problems by stirring things up in the area. I was also very concerned about that. but after discussing the results of a few years of acupuncture with the woman I connected with on here and nothing but good news, I decided to try it. The treatment actually is more of a full body acupuncture, with a few of the needles around the affected area, and ocassionally directly into the nodules. After doing this for four years, what was a very rapidly progressing problem has barely advanced at all! I am now looking into radiation as there seems to be really incredibly good results if it is done in the earliest stages. If I qualify, I may be able to stop it in its tracks and not have to continue my monthly acupuncture.Good Luck!RogerM

Quote:Acupuncture crossed my mind the other day, but only for a moment because I thought even if the needle is small its still damaging the fibromatosis and possibly creating more problems.

I have not done any research into Acupuncture as a treatment for DD, but I was happy to see a video story on foxnews.com about collagenase shots; a needle I wouldn't mind.

I am going to try modifying my diet to be more alkaline and see if that helps as it has with others.